The consensus in the Marlins clubhouse is that when you have a star talent like Hanley Ramirez, you make every effort to keep and build around him.
The framework for a six-year extension worth a team-record $70 million is now in place, and the Marlins are days away from formally announcing the signing of their 24-year-old shortstop.
The official announcement may end up coming on Friday, when the team returns from its seven-game road swing through Washington and Cincinnati.
Florida players are happy for Ramirez and wondering what the next step will be.
The Marlins haven't had a player signed to a multiyear contract since 2005, when they had locked up Carlos Delgado, Luis Castillo, Mike Lowell and Paul Lo Duca. All four, however, were traded after that season.
"That's usually what teams do, lock up their best players," outfielder Josh Willingham said. "That's a sign of maybe making a commitment to a few more players in the offseason. I really don't know. But you have a commitment to the team. I think it makes a good statement to the fans when you commit to a player like that."
With Ramirez, who is making $439,000 this season, on the verge of his new contract, the Marlins will, after this season, have to deal with a number of top players who become arbitration-eligible.
Willingham, Dan Uggla, Mike Jacobs, Jeremy Hermida and Scott Olsen are among those in line for big arbitration paydays.
"Who knows what is going to happen?" Uggla said. "With the new stadium and everything, we kind of figured they'd make an effort to lock a few guys up. It happened with Hanley. Everybody is happy for Hanley. He's set for life. Who knows what they're going to do now?"
A major reason that the Marlins, who have a $21 million payroll, could negotiate a long-term deal with Ramirez is their new retractable-roof stadium, scheduled to open in 2011.
"It's good for both the organization and for Hanley," Jacobs said. "Maybe it will show that they will be willing to do some stuff like that. This organization isn't known for this sort of stuff [signing players to multiyear deals], so that remains to be seen. But it's encouraging, that's for sure. It's exciting.
"There are a lot of young guys who will be arbitration-eligible this year. We'll have to see what happens."
For a number of Marlins, keeping Ramirez was a no-brainer.
"You've got to be crazy if you think you're going to let that guy go," said closer Kevin Gregg, who, at $2.5 million, entered this season as the Marlins' highest-paid player. "You want to hold on to those guys who are special and try to get a good deal for the player and for the organization.
"They got a fair deal on it, and it's good for him. It's security, and gives him peace of mind, knowing where he is going to be the next few years."
With Ramirez the new foundation of the roster, the team will weigh how to approach its other young players.
"Every person in here has a different situation," Hermida said. "But it's good to see Hanley get that, and it shows they want to keep him around.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez cautioned that nothing has been made official.
"It's been rumors," Gonzalez said. "I think when it happens, it will be a good thing for the community, and for us."
Veteran Wes Helms sees a benefit to securing young players, one of them being a player's peace of mind.
"It shows the player you want him here, and maybe he can relax more," Helms said. "It's good for a young guy as good as Hanley. You know he's going to be good, year after year. He's not a guy who breaks down, or stuff like that. I think it's a great thing.
"It shows the fans the Marlins are committed to keeping a good team here."
A couple of former Marlins employees also are pleased for Ramirez.
"He's a great kid, he loves to play the game and he's a special talent," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who managed the Marlins in 2006. "He was the hardest guy for me to project where he'd end up in his career hitting. He had that raw power. You know who he reminds me of a little bit? Eric Davis. Just unbelievable natural ability to change the game in so many ways. You'd hear people talk about him down there and say if he grew up in Miami and wasn't a baseball player, he'd be a defensive back or a wide receiver at the University of Miami. He has incredible speed, and he's big, too. He's an exciting player. I used to love watching him hit triples."
"I'm happy for him, and I think the Marlins made themselves a good deal," said Nationals infielder Aaron Boone, a teammate of Ramirez's last year. "I think this, and the new park, it's certainly a sign that things are going to change a little bit in that department."
